Dera says followers harassed, calls meeting

Hours after a court issued a conditional arrest warrant against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the Dera has alleged that “excesses” are being committed against its followers. A meeting to chalk out its action plan to counter the attempts to “terrorise” them was scheduled for today (June 21).
Dera: We will counter excesses by anti-socials
Following the court order, the Dera followers last night (June 20) held a congregation in Sirsa, after which it asked supporters from all the states to converge in Sirsa.
“The Dera has convened an emergent meeting tomorrow to take further action to counter excesses on the Dera followers by some anti-social elements,” a release issued by the sect said.
It said some anti-social elements are “openly creating an atmosphere of terror” against peaceful followers of Dera.
It asked its followers to be “prepared for any eventuality and make any sacrifice”.
Tension in Sirsa
Clashes took place between some Sikh community members and Dera supporters leading to tension. Security is being stepped up in Sirsa with deployment of additional paramilitary forces.
Sources say that in the third letter of apology, the Dera head has removed the affix `Satguru’ from his name which was objected to by the clergy, and used the word ‘sant’ instead.
The state was hit by a sectarian strife in which one person was killed and over 50 were injured after head of Dera Sacha Sauda appeared in an advertisement in various newspapers on May 13 showing him as dressed as tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.
News Source: Times Now.